Toronto Raptors to Interview Denver Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri

The interest in Masai Ujiri from the Toronto Raptors appears to be very real — the Denver Nuggets’ general manager is hearing TDot’s pitch today, and according to reports, the 42-year old winner of this season’s Executive of the Year award could jump ship. Per the Denver Post and Yahoo! Sports: “Nuggets general manager Masai Ujiri will interview with Toronto, a source confirmed, complicating the situation as the Nuggets try to re-sign the reigning NBA executive of the year. Ujiri previously worked in the Raptors’ front office, and has since thrived since coming to Denver. Ujiri and team president Josh Kroenke have said that the plan is to bring Ujiri back to Denver — his contract is up this summer — but Ujiri will at least see what Toronto has to say. […] Unless Denver responds soon with a market-value contract extension to keep its general manager, Ujiri is prepared to leave Denver for the chance to rebuild the Raptors organization, league sources said. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke is aggressively pursuing Ujiri to become the Raptors’ general manager and plans to present an offer that will pay him nearly $3 million annually over the course of a multiyear contract, league sources said. Denver has long been reluctant to pay its top front-office executives market value, and current contract extension talks with Ujiri are believed to include figures that are nowhere near the commitment that Toronto’s willing to make. Ujiri’s contract with the Nuggets expires on June 30 and it’s possible an agreement can be struck that will allow him to leave sooner. Ujiri is one of the NBA’s lowest-paid general managers, making below $1 million a year.”